By Pat Taylor

Cleverly written by Phil Olson, this is an "off the wall," hilarious, Minnesota love story. Sort of a cast of "Fargo" meets "Northern Exposure," we meet and get involved with the townfolk of Whitefish Bay.

The set, impressively designed by M.J. Mitchel, places us in Carl and Lena’s beer bar, with a local radio station operating in its midst. Phil Olson, (also the playwright) riotously plays the male lead Lars, who hosts a corny radio program on fishing…but has NO listeners.

Therese Lentz is wonderful as Martha, who hosts a more successful radio show on book reviews. She and Lars have secretly lusted for each other since high school, neither knowing how to express their feelings.

As the bar’s proprietors, Bethany Carpenter, (Lena) and Jack Goodman, (Carl) are sheer delight! Their comedic, dry, sense of timing, individually and as a duo, provided some of the plays funniest moments.

The small town "Ho Hum" existence of the locals in Whitefish Bay, is turned topsy turvy when two brash, New Yorkers invade their territory. Sal, played by Robert Ditillio, with great "wise guy" cockiness, buys the radio station, with "big city" ideas for its success. Donna, played by Jennifer

Cohen, with plenty of sexy, mouthy, East coast attitude, breezes into town to buy the local hotel. At this point…all Hell breaks loose!

Jill Piwowar, Vince Cefalu, Nora Meerbaum and Doug Engalla, round out the cast nicely, in small roles. Costumes, by Pam Macchi, were fun, and depicted attire one needs in freezing weather.

Co-directors, Mareli Mitchel and Stephen R. Hudis, kept the zaniness moving at a side-splitting pace. A real audience pleaser, this comedy is totally silly, entertaining, and refreshingly unique.

Running indefinitely, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. at Group Repertory Company at 10900 Burbank Boulevard in North Hollywood. For reservations call (818) 769-PLAY.